Ocean & sea freight rates by lane
Spot market rates for FCL FAK shipments, refreshed weeklypulse
Find ocean rates
Live spot ratesBrowse 20 popular lanes below, or search another supported port pair.
| Lane | Prev | Trend | Rate | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ready to move freight?
Gateway Lines can confirm space, sailing windows, docs, customs, drayage, and contracted pricing for eligible volume.
Port-to-port FCL FAK rates, confirmed at booking. Excludes customs, duties, drayage, insurance, and other shipment-specific charges unless stated.
Every rate on this board is a spot rate. Ship steady volume? Go contracted.
Spot rates are quick, one-off market prices for the soonest sailing on a lane. They are the fastest way to price a container today, and they move with the market. If you ship dedicated lanes or regular volume, Gateway Lines sets you up with contracted rates instead: locked pricing on your lanes that runs meaningfully lower than spot, with space protected for your freight.
Spot rates (this board)
- One-off, ship-now pricing
- Moves with the market
- Best for occasional shipments
Contracted rates
- Locked pricing on your lanes
- Meaningfully lower than spot
- For dedicated or regular volume
Live ocean freight spot rates by lane
Gateway Lines Ocean Rates shows live sea freight rates for major port pairs, refreshed with fresh market reads. They are spot market reads for FAK container shipping in 20-foot, 40-foot and 40-foot high cube sizes; Gateway Lines, an NVOCC, quotes contracted pricing below them for regular volume. The 20 busiest lanes are published right on the board with the current rate, the move over the past 30 days, and transit time. Open a lane for weekly price history and sailing windows, or search any other supported port pair. Every lane carries the date it was last read.
What goes into an ocean freight rate
Base ocean freight
The core charge to move a full container from the origin port to the destination port.
Fuel (BAF)
A bunker adjustment factor that rises and falls with marine fuel prices.
Terminal handling (THC)
Charges for loading, unloading, and handling the container at each port.
Surcharges
Peak-season (PSS) and general rate increases (GRI) applied when capacity tightens.
The rate search shows the all-in market rate per container, so these are already rolled in. Final pricing is confirmed at booking. New to the tool? See how it works.
Want the reasoning rather than the number? Read what moves ocean freight rates, covering capacity, fuel, season, routing and how the major lanes differ.
Ocean freight rate FAQ
Is Gateway Lines Ocean Rates free to use?
Yes. The 20 busiest lanes are published right on the board with no sign-up and no email, including Shanghai to Long Beach and Shanghai to New York. Searching other supported port pairs and opening full lane details takes a quick one-time business email, with 5 free rate views a week to keep it fair. Shipping with Gateway unlocks unlimited rates and contracted pricing.
How much is ocean freight per container?
It depends on the lane, the container size, and timing. Rates move week to week with capacity, fuel, and season. The current 40-foot high-cube spot rate for the 20 busiest lanes is published on the board above, and you can search any other supported port pair for its live read.
What is the difference between spot rates and contracted rates?
A spot rate is a one-off, ship-now price for the soonest sailing on a lane, and it moves with the market. A contracted rate is locked pricing Gateway Lines sets up on your regular lanes, typically meaningfully lower than spot, with space protected for your freight. Everything on this board is spot. Steady volume belongs on contract.
Can Gateway Lines beat the rates on this board?
Often, yes. The board shows the published spot market read for each lane. With flexible sailing dates, steady volume, or multiple lanes, our team can frequently quote below the board through contracted pricing and space we already hold. Talking to us costs nothing and takes a few minutes.
Do I need an account to see ocean freight rates?
No account is needed. The 20 headline lanes are open to everyone. A one-time business email unlocks searches on other port pairs plus full lane details, including weekly price history, the rate chart, and sailing windows.
Are sea freight rates the same as ocean freight rates?
Yes. Sea freight rates, ocean freight rates, and container shipping rates all describe the same thing: the cost to move a container by water between two ports. This board shows the live full-container (FCL) market read for any of those terms.
How are ocean freight rates calculated?
A full-container (FCL) rate combines the base ocean freight with a fuel surcharge (BAF), terminal handling (THC), and any peak-season or general rate increases. Gateway Lines shows the all-in market spot rate per container, so you do not have to add these up. Customs, duties, drayage, and insurance are separate, shipment-specific charges.
How often do ocean freight rates change?
Frequently. Spot rates can move week to week, and sharply during peak season, general rate increases, or capacity disruptions. This board gets fresh market reads every week, and every lane shows its movement over the past 30 days.
Are ocean freight rates going up or down?
It varies by lane. Every lane on the board shows its move over the past 30 days, so you can see whether a route is climbing or easing instead of relying on a single global average. The market pulse strip at the top tracks the major corridors week over week.
What is FAK in ocean freight?
FAK stands for Freight All Kinds, a standard full-container rate that covers most general commodities. If your cargo is not classified as FAK, your final rate may differ.
Which lanes does the Ocean Rates Board cover?
Major trans-Pacific and global ocean freight lanes, for example Shanghai to Long Beach, Ningbo to New York, Shenzhen to Savannah, and Qingdao to Houston. The 20 busiest are published on the board, and you can search any other supported port pair. If a lane is not covered yet, you can request a quote.
How do I get an accurate ocean freight quote?
The board rate is the current market read for the lane. For a bookable quote, open the lane and book it, or talk to Gateway Lines. We confirm space, sailing windows, and final pricing at booking, and eligible volume gets contracted pricing below spot.